Chapter 4

My mom froze. "Sophia, what are you saying?"

I didn't look at her. Staring at Ethan's mother, I said slowly and clearly: "Forget the eight thousand. I don't want a single penny."

Ethan's mother's expression changed instantly—from scowling to smiling, faster than flipping a page. "That's more like it. Wouldn't it have been easier to do this from the start?"

Ethan also relaxed, a smile appearing on his face as he walked over to put his arm around me. "I knew you couldn't let me go."

I stepped aside, dodging his hand.

My mom stood frozen, looking at me with…